The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-26
TEE CARES CONCERTS or PARIS
where me Partisan Fubiio Finds its Chief
and Cheapest Amusements


OF warmth, the Parisians have been able to
begin their usual summer out-of-door. oxist-
ence and to enjoy thor usual summer amuso-
ments. OF which one OF the chief is tho open
air caf6 concert. Among the winter amuse-
ments Of the Parisians tho CATS concert is also
one OF tho chief. Indeed, II Montcsauieus In
telligent Persian were to return to modern
Paris, he would doubtless note that the cafe
concert has become tho fayorite distraction OF
the Parisians, to the detriment both OF the
dramatic and OF tho lyric stage. and In PROOF
OF this statement he would cite the multiple
fly and prosperity OF these establish
ments. In round numbers we may say
that the society Of authors, composers,
and publishers Of music collects annually au-
thors' fees. &c., to tho amount Of 100000. OF
which 100000 are paid By the cafes concerts,
or variety shows. and the rest by the Opera,
the Opera Comidue, and various concerts.
Evidently the public prefers tho lower form Of
art to the higher. These figures suffice to
prove that the cafes concerts are the great
popular places Of amusement; and 1t is curious
to remark that while the Paris theatres, with
oil the resources OF puffery. fail In many cases
to make both ends meet, the caf6s concerts.
without any pufYery whatever. with very little
advertising, and without tho patronage OF the
upper classes, succeed simply because they
offer what the popular taste requires.
Ono great cause OF the popular success OF
the cafes concerts Is, imagine, In the fact
that tho srtistes and entire personnel are re-
cruited from the ranks Of tho people. and 80
an instructive communion IL readily estab-
Nshed between artistic and public. At CATS
concert natural gifts suffice, and genius is no.
where moro spontaneous and more free from
all preparatory restraint. So We find that
nearly all tho caf6 concert celebrities have
begun their career without education, and
many Of them remain In their state Of initial
ignorance. But 1t may DO asked. how docs an
artistic learn an sir II he cannot read music
There are several means, Of which one is to
compose the air ones self. A well-known ar
tists proceeds a. follows: His poet In ordinary
brings him song. which he corrects. modifes,
appropriates, and signs. after paying the au
thor "a for his verses. Then the artistic pro-
oeeds to compose the air. Standing in the
middle Of his sitting room. the walls
Of which are adorned with photographs
Of himself in all his CREATIONS" and
with laurel wreaths that have boon offered to
him BY provincial enthusiasm. the artistic huns
and whistles fragments Of airs stored in his
memory. while pianist notes the souvenirs,
arranges the fragments. composes the orches-
tration, and delivers the music complete and
all ready for the artistic to sign, as he has
already signed the words. The pianiste is
paid 81 q seance. and the artistic, appearing as
author both OF the words and Of the music, re-
Ss eiss De- aes . 8e sVeSn pos e ass &c
A,tstQis. like q bold and bad man that he is.
But II order to proceed In this audaeioqs man. q.
songs By ear. and this Is the method q. teach
IN e so
sse Ras G sslnss hpens ~ YOU %
ind Da man snd
thirty OF, forty more or less youthful females
the the Fl their ySss
N. Duhem. who has sung In most OF the con-
eerts Of Paris. isShimssh composer Of words
have his songs sung as often as possible. This
II why he has founded his conseryatoire whore
ssa nRs w so esssa MI r.
gers Of provincial cafes concerts, and on re-
ceipt OF . demand. accompanied BY the neces-
Ss h ~
%osts s.s R s 's ss :.
asas not hss %
S 5 bs q Den IN Ggs5 t.
the provincial public. she viii finally make her
s Sse i ass
WI sfS for besides
vocal talent Is Only secondary. Such are the
as snes Soa
s the sSSss IL thu Ss
nr n ful
lures wonderfully painted. wcndsrfuiiy hair
dressed. fnq clad In sumptuous robes Of bright
a sS eSssd FL SesS 81
Sssas IL e = :ss: i Els s
that these possasss Willingly accept, WITH the
sonssaaenees. TIE bouaueis which gallant
have been told that. thank. to bis Ingenious
f system he gyms some $1,000 year q 6is aH-
getting pupils, for the conditions Of Admission
TO bis conseryatoire are very lenfent: tho least
skcd as s
fore ths male cate concert artistos there e1.
and boaaaes
hG sssSstS9 s Ss ps FL f.
hs ns Sounds %as
for years; Otherwise Al the male sing;
according as they, may have been favored
BY nature physically, they choose their songs
whether ssptlmental. bacchic, comic, or indo-
cent The leading male ne singers1n the pTinci-
RADIO, the Aleazar, the Ambassadeurs. the Con.
the star" lady singers from SO to $50 night
In the minor cafes concerts salaries vary from
u down to 20 cents Q night. The artistes and
I;ab, who n are content WITH 20 gents
the top 81 which are Nine. Theresa, Paulus,
Nine AAfati, IL chanteus9 natiqnale:" Bour-
yes, the great singer OF Bacchic refrains Mines.
Bonnaire, Demay. and Duparc.
The observer who takes the trouble to exam
inc the songs OF the cafes concerts Will lind
that the authors and musicians are few Half
dozen names recur constantly, and when we
look into the matter we shall find that these
names are those Of managers. secretaries. or
prominent cafe -concert artistes whose position
puts In their hands means OF coercion, and on
ables them to buy the words and music Of
song for one, two. or three dollars, or for four
dollars at the outside. But who are the real
authors Of the songs in auestionS Govern
ne ne List and this can readily understand for
and sure refuge OF many matnro nnais